Public lecture:
WHEN: Thursday September 4 2008, 7.00pm
WHERE: RMIT Building 50, Orr St (off Victoria St) Carlton
WHO: David Waldren, Victorian Design Manager, Grocon
refreshments provided
Construction giant Grocon has entered a partnership with the
Vietorian Government, Yarra Community Housing and non-
profit organisation Homeground Services to build a
supportive housing facility for the homeless at 660 Elizabeth
Street, Melbourne. It will be based on a New York model
known as Common Ground, which incorporates the services
the homeless may require in one facility.
The partnership was announced publicly by the Victorian
Premier, John Brumby, on April 24, 2008. Grocon is building
the facility at cost and many consultants with whom Grocon
works have already agreed to work on an at-cost or pro bono
basis. Works are expected to commence late in 2008 and be
complete by around August 2010.
A national body known as Common Ground Australia has been
formed, with Therese Rein as its national patron. This will be
the first such facility in Victoria , although one has already
been built in South Australia . Similar facilities for the
homeless are planned right around the country.
We invite you to learn more about the objectives behind this
project and how they will be delivered
Davida dren, Design Manager of Grocon’s Victorian arm,
{@\raraged several multi-million dollar projects in the past
FaGIBding a joint venture between the National Museum of
gustralia and the Australian Centre for Aboriginal and Torres
Bilt Islander Studies. David is an architect and fellow of
AHeMiliiemson Community Leadership program
are
architectsi"peace — Design Research hstitute
wowwarchitects' > peace.org “@RMITURiersity